Word: byng
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...campaign petered into insignificance before the polling began. A surprising apathy was likewise shown by the electorate toward Conservative promises of a high protective tariff and Liberal pledges of a low tariff for revenue only. An issue meet for tooth and claw was however discovered in the famed "Byng-King" incident...
...Byng-King, This highly technical issue grew out of the refusal of Baron Byng, Governor General of Canada, to dissolve Parliament on the "advice" of Liberal Leader William Lyon Mackenzie King (TiME, July 5) who was at the time Premier. Not for many a year has a Governor General of Canada refused to heed such "advice" from a Premier, and accordingly the Liberals were able to ruffle the pride of Canadians by the slogan: "Is Canada a (locally autonomous) Dominion, or a (subservient) Crown Colony...
...vain Conservatives pointed out that Baron Byng acted within his rights. Mr. King, defeated in the House of Commons, was forced to resign as Premier and was succeeded by Conservative Premier Arthur Meighen (TiME, July 12). The Liberals swiftly retorted that when Premier Meighen "advised" the Governor General to dissolve Parliament (TIME, July 12) Baron Byng complied at once...
...Baron Byng was expected, as a matter of course, to call Mr. King to the Premiership. Interest quickened as to whether "the Premier-elect" could form his Cabinet soon enough to hasten from Ottawa to London in time for the Imperial Conference in October...
Before bluff, hearty Countryman King resigned as Premier, he sought Lord Byng and advised the dissolution of Parliament, which would have caused the election to be held under Liberal auspices. The Governor General refused somewhat peremptorily to order dissolution and Premier King resigned forthwith. On the contrary, when suave, aristocratic, moneyed Premier Meighen approached Baron Byng with a request for dissolution last week it was granted instanter -thereby putting the electoral machinery in the hands of Conservatives. Though Lord Byng acted within his legal rights, custom virtually obligated him to follow the original "advice" of Premier King. Unquestionably the efforts...